Rumor Claims tvOS 11 to Add Picture-in-Picture, Multi-User Support

Monday

Apple TVs will allegedly get multi-user support and picture-in-picture functionality in tvOS 11, according to a new rumor.

Multi-user support will reportedly allow the creation of different profiles in tvOS — and will tailor on-screen content, apps and other personalized features to the active profile, which is connected to an Apple ID. Reportedly, users will be able to access music bought from Apple Music, view their own photos and videos from iCloud, watch purchased and downloaded content connected to their iTunes account, and use their own apps on the TV, Israeli site The Verifier reported.

According to The Verifier’s undisclosed source, work on multi-user support is in the “advanced stages” — but added a caveat that it could ultimately be delayed until an even later version of the operating system. Multi-user support isn’t a new concept to Apple. The company’s various Mac computers already support it. The iPad does, too — but only in educational mode.

In addition, the Israeli news site also alleged that tvOS 11 will add picture-in-picture functionality. Again borrowing from Mac and iPad devices, picture-in-picture will allow users to “minimize” a playing video, essentially adding a multi-tasking function to the Apple TV. Users will be able to stream their favorite content while using another app — although, reportedly, playing additional video or audio in another window will “turn off” the currently played content. Lastly, the publication suggested that Apple plans to introduce a live programming guide alongside a monthly TV subscription bundle through partnerships with content providers (something Apple has long been rumored to be exploring).

It’s worth noting that The Verifier is a relatively new and fairly obscure Apple news site, and it currently has an unproven track record. This is further complicated by the fact that the publication’s recentclaims are all currently unverifiable — and we likely won’t know if they turn out to be true until WWDC in June. That isn’t to entirely discredit the publication, however, as Israel has become a hub of technological innovation in recent years — and there are currently Apple engineers working on various projects in the country.